Pure Hydroton

[eggshells]

Originally Posted by pedidiva

I use LECA for medioum. I have a Vanda in it. It retains moisture pretty well deep into the plant. I us a long wooden skewer to check for moisture. For me, the LECA retains more moisture than the bark mix I was using. It depends upon your conditions, though. My plants are in clay pots. Humidity averages ~ 50% & I have a fan running. Temps get to mid 80's in the summer, never below 55 in the Winter.

Good luck, another reason that i like the LECA is because it is reusable. Boil, soak, Wah-La (I know it Voila)

That is the reason that I want to move it to LECA I don't really want to re-pot them and disturb the roots unless the pseudo-bulbs are growing outside the pot. It doesn't decay also. I was observing the hydroton that I soaked and drained a month ago and they are still moist underneath. They are just sitting in the pail and sitting in my storage. it can be up to 35 degrees there really hot. So I thought that must be a good medium. It's moist but not wet.

[pedidiva]

yes, I have had no problems with it.It's a nice media.
Good luck~~
Pedi

[tucker85]

I have about 50 cattleyas in either hydroton alone or hydroton with charcoal. I also have a couple in hydroton with charcoal and tree fern fiber. Cattleyas and laelias do very well in it (alone or mixed). I did not have good luck with oncidiums or phals. I've since moved all my oncidiums and phals to other medium. Hydroton holds only a little moisture but, for my catts, a fast drying medium is exactly what I want. Of course here in Florida the humidity is high and that makes a difference. Two things that limit you when growing in organic medium are medium breakdown and fertilizer salt build up in the medium. Hydroton does not breakdown and although it does absorb some salts it's very easy to flush out the pot with plain water occasionally. That means you can leave the plant undisturbed for a few years and grow a nice big specimen. Good luck.

[pedidiva]

it really depends on the conditions. the oncs & phals that i have are doing well. I suspect it's because my humidity is lower.

Try it & se. You can always change yopur medium.

Pedi

[eggshells]

My humidity is around 40-50 but when I turned on the humidifier is 60-75. I will try it and see how it goes.

[psyc1210]

I use Hydroton and Aliflor for all of my orchids, except my Bulbos and my Phal gigantea. I mostly grow Phals, and a few Catts...the LECA works really well for me, and I water every 3-5 days.

[Ray]

LECA is a great medium, but keep in mind that if you allow it to dry out between waterings, it will build up mineral salts and plant wastes over time, so will need to be replaced. That may not be for a few years, but it is inevitable.

[eggshells]

Well, as promised. Here are the photos of the plant that I planted in hydroton clay balls. I water and fertilize it with the same frequency as I water the orchids that I have in bark.

Thanks everyone for the input.

[Bud]

I have a blooming catt on medium pumice too Lady WhiteRabbit...and I have my Vanda Pachara with its roots curled in a drilled glass vase on LECA and I water it everyday...